Western Albemarle got three. But the Warriors couldn’t get the fourth.
Western’s girls soccer team accomplished the three wins milestone by beating Charlottesville in a playoff for the Jefferson District regular season title, but they were unable to secure win number four as they fell to the Black Knights in the Jefferson District tournament final Thursday night by a score of 1-0.
Charlottesville head coach Fernando Opere summed up his team’s breakthrough win against their local rivals with one word: satisfaction.
“The other games could have gone any other way. They were very close. As a matter of fact, in the last game I think we had many more chances and we lost,” he said.
“This time we came with a winning goal, and soccer is like that. You’re playing against a wonderful team, and you manage to put a goal in the net, and you win the game, and for us it was very important today.”
After early crosses from both teams came up empty, Western Albemarle produced the first real scoring chance of the game nine minutes in when a shot from Elsa Strickland hit the outside net. A minute later, teammate Marina Clark launched a shot from almost 25 yards out that also went wide.
Charlottesville broke through later in the half when sophomore Althea Pickering forced Western Albemarle goalkeeper junior Emily Marbury to come up with the diving save.
With fourteen minutes remaining in the opening half, the Black Knights scored what we be the only goal of the game, as Lana Womack knocked in a loose ball off a corner kick to give her team a 1-0 advantage.
“Against good teams you don’t have many opportunities. Probably we had four today, and we came up with one (goal) – 25 percent,” Opere said.
“You have to finish. If you don’t finish it doesn’t matter how well you played.”
Western Albemarle found great success with their wing play, as numerous crosses from Clark provided opportunities to equal the score throughout the second half. In the end, the Charlottesville defense prevailed, securing the victory.
“We have a wonderful defense. They are solid, all of them,” Opere said.
Despite the loss, Western Albemarle’s spirits remain high heading into the regional tournament.
“They’re a great team, and so are we, and right there you just saw an excellently played game,” said Warriors’ head coach Jake Desch. “Today’s goal was to play good soccer. Win or lose to play good soccer, and I think we did that. We were able to accomplish that goal, and heading into regionals where everyone is tough, we have good momentum.”
The Warriors secured a first-round bye by virtue of their Jefferson District regular season championship and will await the winner of Monday’s matchup between Briar Woods and Kettle Run.
Charlottesville will host Brentsville in the opening round of the Region II tournament.
